Florida Democratic chair race: Mount out, Rizzo in

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Judy Mount said Monday she will not run to be the party's permanent chair, while Palm Beach County Democratic official Terrie Rizzo says she is getting in the race.

The chairmanship became vacant after Stephen Bittel said he would resign following a POLITICO report that he had a history of making demeaning remarks toward women, according to former party staffers and consultants.

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On Friday, Mount told POLITICO she was all in for the race to replace Bittel, but had an abrupt change of heart Monday morning.

“I have always supported the Florida Democratic Party, its candidates and the causes so important to all of us true blue Democratic,” she said. “I will continue to do so, just not as the next elected chair.”

Mount did not return requests seeking comment, but was hinting to supporters that some party officials had asked her not to run; she told one backer that the “powers that be” told her not to run.

Rizzo, seen as a Bittel ally, announced on Facebook that she will run in the chair's race.

"If elected to serve, I will work tirelessly and lead with unparalleled motivation to achieve the goals of our party to ensure the inclusion of those who have been left behind, protect every voter’s rights, lift up new leaders, and grow our Democratic base," Rizzo wrote in a Facebook post.

Monica Russo, president of the SEIU Florida State Council, is also considering getting in the race. Because she is not a local party official, Russo is not yet eligible to run for chairwoman — but that can be quickly fixed. After all, as Bittel was being encouraged to run late last year, Miami-Dade Democratic State Committeeman Bret Berlin — a Bittel ally — resigned his post, allowing Bittel to get elected committeeman and become eligible for state chairman.

The move was criticized by grassroots elements in the party, but those who opposed Bittel could not agree on one opposition candidate, so he easily won the statewide chairmanship race.

One of the biggest shoes yet to drop in terms of dictating the direction of the race is behind whom Sen. Bill Nelson puts his weight. Nelson is Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, and he'll be running in what is likely to be a contentious 2018 race against Republican Gov. Rick Scott, if the governor decides to run. Ensuring that the chair of the party is someone the Nelson camp is comfortable with will be a top priority.

Nelson was influential in helping to secure an election win for Bittel last December. He was an early supporter, and called other party leaders on Bittel’s behalf.